12 Internships for High School Students in Seattle, Washington
Internships can be a strong option if you’re a high school student looking to explore potential career paths while gaining early experience. They allow you to build practical skills, learn from professionals in structured settings, and develop a clearer understanding of how different industries function on a day-to-day basis. Through these opportunities, you can also develop your interests while working on projects and tasks that reflect real professional environments.
Why should you attend a program in Seattle, Washington?
Seattle is home to a range of organizations, research centers, and companies that offer internships across fields such as healthcare, technology, environmental science, and business. Depending on the opportunity, you might contribute to research projects, develop technical or analytical skills, or participate in workshops and mentorship experiences that introduce you to different career paths. These internships can be worth considering, whether you are a local student looking for opportunities in the area or someone interested in exploring programs in a new city.
In this blog, we’ve gathered 12 internships for high school students in Seattle.
If you’re looking for programs in Seattle, check out our blog here.
1. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid internship; interns receive a financial award upon successful completion; rates not publicly available Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically 20 – 25 interns
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years old and reside in Greater Seattle or the surrounding areas
The program begins with two weeks of intensive training in laboratory safety, core research techniques, and an introduction to cancer biology. For the remaining six weeks, you are paired and placed in active research groups, where you engage in mentored laboratory or research activities alongside professional scientists. You’ll also attend research seminars, ethics discussions, and professional development workshops focused on college preparation and biomedical careers. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, mentorship, and community-building through cohort activities and social events. SHIP culminates in formal presentations where interns share their research experiences with the Fred Hutch community, families, and peers.
2.Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winterApplication Deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. Research Training Program (RTP)
Location: Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24 students
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and rising seniors; must live within commuting distance of downtown Seattle
In this program, you’ll receive scaffolded training in core research techniques and explore topics including biochemistry, immunology, gene editing, infectious diseases, and public health. You’ll learn how to work safely and effectively in a research lab environment and engage in hands-on laboratory activities, facility tours, and scientific lectures. The program also includes college-readiness and career-exploration workshops to help you understand pathways into science and medicine. Over the course of four weeks, you’ll design and complete an independent research project and present your findings in a final oral presentation.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who are able to commit 10-20 hours per week
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships span a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech to AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are, on average, high-growth companies that raise over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
5. Pathways Research Explorers Program
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $500 award upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 32 students total
Dates: Session 1: July 27 – August 7 | Session 2: August 10 – 21
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th-grade students who have completed introductory biology or chemistry and reside in Seattle or the surrounding areas
The Pathways Research Explorers Program is a two-week, immersive summer program that introduces you to cancer and biomedical research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Designed for those with limited prior research experience, the program combines hands-on laboratory activities, guided experiments, and interactive learning in Fred Hutch’s Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Learning Lab. You’ll explore topics including cancer biology, public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics while touring active research labs and engaging with scientists and trainees at various career stages. The program emphasizes mentorship, collaboration, and exposure to real-world biomedical research environments.
6. ISB’s High School Summer Internship
Location: Seattle, Washington
Stipend: Paid Internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 - August 21
Application deadline: March 11
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in 11th grade and currently reside in the United States.
The High School Internship Program at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle gives rising high school seniors the opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research for 8 weeks in a professional lab setting. Interns work on systems biology projects tied to ongoing research, such as computational biology, microbiology, cancer research, and bioengineering, and apply scientific methods to real data and experiments under the guidance of experienced mentors. Alongside hands‑on lab work, participants build skills in areas like coding, data analysis, and scientific communication, interview scientists to learn about different STEM career paths, and often develop a personal project description or website to showcase their work. This experience is designed to deepen understanding of interdisciplinary research and help students explore how modern biology intersects with technology and discovery.
7. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship – Mountains to Sound Greenway
Location: Stadium Light Rail Station or King Street Center, Seattle, Washington
Stipend/Cost: $22 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application Deadline: April 22
Eligibility: High school students age 16 or older who live in the Seattle Metro area and are eligible to work in the U.S.
The Clean Water Ambassadors Internship in Seattle offers high school students the opportunity to learn about local environmental science, water quality, and conservation work in the Puget Sound region. Interns explore topics such as watershed function, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and environmental and social justice through field trips to treatment facilities and natural sites, hands‑on workshops, and community engagement activities. Along the way, students interview professionals in environmental careers, develop communication skills by leading public education efforts, and work on projects to raise awareness of clean water issues affecting local communities. The internship provides real‑world experience in environmental stewardship and helps participants build skills in public speaking, scientific communication, data interpretation, and collaborative problem‑solving.
8. Career Quest - Internship Courses
Location: Seattle Public Schools, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $21.30 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: July 7 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Seattle Public Schools high school students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways
Career Quest - Internship Courses are structured, credit-bearing internship opportunities designed to connect you with real-world experiences aligned to CTE career pathways. Through summer placements, you’ll explore career fields related to your academic interests while working directly with industry and research partners. You’ll engage in hands-on workplace activities that build problem-solving, collaboration, creativity, communication, and professional skills. In addition to on-site work, you’ll participate in weekly career development classes led by a Career Quest teacher, providing structured reflection and guidance. Your tracks may include specialized pathways such as Finance Quest, Open Science Quest, and Tech Quest, often in partnership with organizations like Amazon and the Allen Institute.
9. CLA Connect High School Internship – Seattle, WA
Location: Various locations across the US (including Seattle). See all available locations here.
Stipend: Paid internship; students receive a salary for full participation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified (competitive selection process)
Dates: June 15 – July 16
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: Must be 16 years or older, with reliable transportation and authorization to work in the U.S.
The CLA High School Internship Program in Seattle gives students an early opportunity to step into the professional services world and see how businesses operate behind the scenes. Interns are involved in hands‑on tasks that reflect real work in accounting, consulting, tax, and client services, and participate in interactive case studies and collaborate on team projects with professionals at the firm. Students also spend time shadowing employees at different levels, learning how decisions are made and how client engagements unfold. Through this experience, interns gain insight into workplace culture, develop professional communication and analytical skills, and build an early understanding of careers in accounting and business services.
10. UW Botanic Gardens Junior Naturalist Program
Location: Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, WA
Cost: Volunteer program; You’ll earn community service hours and may request a reference letter upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: Various 2-week sessions from June 22 to August 28
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-18 who are enthusiastic about working with children, outdoor learning, and leadership development
The UW Botanic Gardens Junior Naturalists Program is a summer volunteer leadership opportunity for those interested in environmental education and youth engagement. Junior Naturalists assist UW Botanic Gardens Summer Camp instructors by supporting small groups of campers, leading games, and helping facilitate hands-on outdoor activities. You’ll gain practical experience in teaching, communication, and leadership while spending time in immersive natural settings at the Washington Park Arboretum or the Centre for Urban Horticulture. The program emphasizes mentorship, collaboration, and experiential learning, with Junior Naturalists paired closely with experienced Summer Camp Naturalists.
11. Coding for Cancer
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $1,000 award provided upon successful completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 27 – August 21
Application Deadline: March 29
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall
Coding for Cancer is a virtual summer program that introduces you to computational biology and the role of coding in cancer research. You’ll learn the R programming language through hands-on activities, small-group instruction, and guided individual work, with no prior programming experience required. The first half of the program focuses on building foundational skills in coding and cancer biology, while the second half centers on a student-driven research project. You’ll work closely with active computational biology researchers, gaining insight into how data analysis and computational tools are applied in real biomedical research settings. The program emphasizes accessibility, offering support for those who may lack prior technical experience or access to equipment.
12. Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology (SHE in Oncology)
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500 taxable stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students per year
Dates: July 13-July 25
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Full-time high school students
In this program, you’ll collaborate on a genetics-based research project and a patient-centered cancer case study, gaining exposure to both the scientific and clinical dimensions of oncology. The program features daily faculty lectures, panel discussions, and skill-building workshops led by experts from multiple institutions. SHE in Oncology emphasizes mentorship, career exploration, and the building of professional networks for those considering careers in medicine and research. Through its structured yet collaborative format, SHE in Oncology aims to empower you to pursue long-term engagement in biomedical and cancer-related fields.
Image source - Veritas AI Logo